What to do if you have a badger on your property

Key takeaways

• Badgers and their setts are legally protected in the UK, making it a criminal offence to harm, disturb or interfere with them, even during building or garden work.

• Gardens with badgers may show signs such as large sett entrances, latrines, digging damage, scratch marks, hairs and distinctive tracks.

• While badgers can cause property damage that is rarely covered by insurance, homeowners can use lawful deterrents but must never block, damage or attempt to remove a sett.

Badgers are a protected species in the UK - what does this mean?

Badgers and their setts (tunnels and chambers they live in), are protected under a specific law called the Protection of Badgers Act 1992.

This means that intentionally or recklessly disturbing, blocking access to, trapping, or killing a badger can lead to hefty fines or, in some cases, even a prison sentence.

Even building or landscaping can be illegal if the work interferes with a sett.

What are the main signs that indicate a badger/sett is in your garden?

A badger sett can usually be recognised by a combination of signs, rather than just a single clue. These can include:

• Latrines: Shallow pits that badgers use as toilets to mark the edges of their territory.

• Digging damage: This could look like your garden grass being torn up overnight, or flowerbeds being disturbed or ruined. 

• Hairs: Badgers have thick, coarse hair which can get stuck on fences or wire.

• Scratch marks: You may find these on trees, rocks, or other objects that badgers can use as a scratching post.

• Tracks: Badgers have long claws, so you can sometimes see their tracks within your garden mud.

Badger sett entrances are typically large, rounded or D-shaped holes, usually wider than they are tall, with soil piled just outside from digging. Active setts often look well-used, with clear paths leading in and out.¹

I have badgers in my garden - what CAN I do to safely (and legally) deter them?

There are multiple methods to safely and legally deter badgers from your garden, including:

• Covering plants with wire mesh or chicken wire: Plants can still grow through the wire, but it deters badgers from digging. 

• Scent deterrents: Badgers are known to dislike citronella, which can be applied to areas of the garden.

• Fake predators: Decorating your garden with ornaments of owls or other wildlife can act as a deterrent

• Motion-sensor lights: Sudden activation of lights within your garden may discourage badgers from returning.²

Given their protected status, what CAN’T I do if I discover badgers in my garden?

If you discover badgers in your garden, it’s very important you do not disturb, harm or interfere with them or their sett.

This includes filling in entrances, collapsing tunnels, restricting access to setts, using poisons or traps, or attempting to move badgers yourself. Taking these actions could result in fines and prosecution.

What are the main things you think people should know when it comes to badgers/co-existing with them?

Badgers can cause significant disruption to your property, including damage to your lawn, plants and flower beds caused by digging for food. However, as they are a protected species in the UK, they cannot be treated the same as pests.

Despite their distinction from pests, most standard home insurance policies do not cover damage caused by badgers. This is because insurers typically classify it as gradual damage or a maintenance issue rather than a sudden, unforeseen event, such as a fire or storm.

This means taking lawful, preventative steps to maintain your property and deter badgers lawfully could help you avoid being left to pay out for damages out of your own pocket.

<sup>Sources
1. RHS
2. the National Allotment Society</sup>